Daily GK Updates - 14th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Gujarat becomes 1st state to implement 10% quota to EWS : Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced that the benefits of 10% for Economically Weaker sections of general category in educational institutions and government jobs will be applicable in the state.This 10% quota for the economically weaker class from the general category will be over and above the existing 49% quota for SC, ST and OBC.The eligibility of the new quota will be applicable only for which the announcement for jobs and admissions have been made but the process has not yet begun.

2. Ashok Chawla resigned as NSE Chairman : Ashok Chawla has resigned as chairman of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) with immediate effect. Earlier, Ashok Chawla stepped down from the post of non-executive Chairman of Yes Bank.Mr Chawla is named, along with former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in the Aircel-Maxis bribery case being probed by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation).

3. Sushil Modi To Head Committee On GST Revenue Shortfall Faced By States : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi will head the 7-member committee to look into revenue shortfall being faced by the states after the GST roll-out and suggest steps for augmenting collections.The GST Council, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising state ministers, had on December 22, 2018, decided to set up a group of ministers (GoM) to analyze reasons for the shortfall in revenue collections by the states since July 2017.

4. Namita Gokhale Wins Sushila Devi Literature Award : Writer Namita Gokhale has won the Sushila Devi Literature Award for her novel “Things to Leave Behind”.She was awarded in the ‘Best Book of Fiction Written by a Woman Author’ category at the inaugural edition of Bhopal Literature and Art Festival (BLF).

5.  Presidential Award Presented to PM Narendra Modi : The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award, in New Delhi. The Award focuses on the triple-bottom-line of People, Profit, and Planet. It will be offered annually to the leader of a Nation Prof. Philip Kotler is a world renowned Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Owing to his ill-health, he deputed Dr. Jagdish Sheth  of EMORY  University, Georgia, USA, to confer the award.

           

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, US Hold 2+2 Inter-Sessional Meeting in New Delhi :  A 2+2 Inter-Sessional meeting between the United States and India took place in New Delhi, focusing on the progress of defence and foreign policy issues between the two countries.The Indian delegation was led jointly by Joint Secretary (AMS) from the Ministry of External Affairs Gourangalal Das, and Joint Secretary (PIC) from the Ministry of Defence, Shambhu S Kumaran.

2.  US Launches 'Fair Value for Innovation' At Raisina Dialogue : The Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) of United States Chamber of Commerce launched a new innovation strategy at Raisina Dialogue, 2019 in New Delhi. The Initiative is titled as “Fair Value for Innovation”.The Initiative will examine economic underpinnings in order to enable breakthrough innovation and explore the opportunities to harness innovation capital in India and around the globe through research, advocacy, partnerships, and programs. 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  Khelo India Youth Games Concludes: Maharashtra Tops Medal Tally   : Maharashtra topped the medal tally with 37 golds at the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune. It had 111 medals in its kitty with 37 gold, 31 silver and 43 bronze. Delhi was at second position with 35 gold and Haryana too maintains its third position with 29 gold. 10-year old Abhinav Shaw became the youngest gold medallist in the shooting. He teamed up with Mehuli Ghosh to help West Bengal win the 10m air rifle mixed team event.

Daily GK Updates - 13th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh celebrated across the country : The 352nd birth anniversary of the 10^th & last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh is being celebrated across the country as ‘Prakashotsava’.The main function being held at "Takht Harmandar Sahib" in Patna Sahib (birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh).Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a 350-rupee commemorative coin as part of the birth anniversary celebrationsof Guru Gobind Singh in New Delhi.Guru Gobind Singh Ji's entire life was devoted to serving the people and fighting for values of truth, justice, and compassion.

2. Prez Kovind approves re-promulgation of Triple Talaq ordinance : According to Ministry of Law and Justice notification, President Ram Nath Kovind has approved re-promulgation The Muslim Women(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019.The ordinance seeks to protect the rights of married Muslim women and criminalise the practice of instant triple talaq.The President has also re-promulgated Companies Amendment Ordinance 2019 and Indian Medical Council Amendment Ordinance 2019.

3. Rajyavardhan Rathore launches National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 : Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Col Rajyavardhan Rathore has launched the National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 at a function in New Delhi.The theme of the festival is- Be the Voice of New India and Find solutions and contribute to policy.The festival will continue till 24th of next month.The Ministry has decided to organise the youth festival at every district of the country so that the youth (18 to 25 years) can participate and discuss and debate about how to make a New India.

4. Vice President Naidu inaugurates 25th edition of Partnership Summit 2019 in Mumbai : Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated thePartnership summit 2019 (25^th edition) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.New India Rising to Global Occasions is the theme of the inaugural session of the Summit.The summit is expected to build new partnerships and explore investment opportunities in sectors like Artificial Intelligence, big data, food processing, defense, aeronautics, renewable energy and tourism.

5. Sikkim CM launched ‘one family, one job’ scheme : Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has launched the ‘One Family One Job’ scheme in Gangtok. Now, Sikkim has become the first state in the country to carry out such a programme for the people entitling them to state government employee benefits.Under this Scheme, every family one government job has been allotted.New recruits were taken for Group C and Group D posts in 12 departments.

6.  INDUS FOOD 2019 to begin today in Greater Noida :  INDUS FOOD-II with the theme of 'World Food Supermarket' has been started at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida (14th and 15th January 2019).It will promote value addition to India's agriculture exports and integrate Indian farmers and agricultural products with global value chains.INDUS FOOD is a global platform where top exporters from the Food and Beverage Industry of India will be participating and buyers from across the world have been invited.The event is aimed at promoting India as a strong and reliable exporter of food and beverage products to the world

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Nepal Army Chief conferred honorary ‘General of Indian Army’ : Nepal's Army Chief Purna Chandra Thapa has arrived in New Delhi on a four-day official visit.

General Thapa conferred honorary ‘General of Indian Army’ by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan.The visit symbolizes the deep-rooted ties between the two armies and will help strengthen defence cooperation.He will also visit defence formations based at Jaipur and Lucknow.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul suspended pending an inquiry into comments on the TV show : According to The Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai, Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul were suspended pending an inquiry into their comments on women during a TV show.The decision to hand them suspensions came after Rai's CoA colleague Diana Edulji recommended suspension till further action against the two.Both will be sent home on the first available flight from Australia.

2. Abhinav Shaw becomes youngest gold medallist in shooting : Abhinav Shaw (10-years) has become the youngest gold medallist in shooting at the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune.He teamed up with Mehuli Ghosh to help West Bengal win the 10m air rifle mixed team event.Delhi's Devanshi Rana bagged gold in Under-21 girls 25m pistol event.

3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni joins an elite list of Indian cricketers to score ten thousand runs : India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the fifth player to score 10,000 runs (in 330 ODIs) for India in One-day International (ODI) Cricket.Earlier achieved are Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli.Now Dhoni has over 10,050 runs at an average of 49.75, including 9 centuries and 67 fifties.Overall, Dhoni is the 13th player in history to score ten thousand runs in the ODIs.

Daily GK Updates - 12th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. National Youth Day being observed today : National Youth Day (Yuva Diwas) is celebrated in India on 12th January on the birthday of social reformer, philosopher and thinker Swami Vivekananda (156th).According to Ramakrishna Mission, the theme for 2019 is “Youth and Nation Building”Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das has unveiled the tallest bronze statue of Swami Vivekanand at Ranchi Lake.

2. Malala pens new book on refugee girls titled 'We are Displaced' : Nobel Peace Prize winner, Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai is coming up with a new book, charting her experiences travelling the world and visiting refugee camps.The Title of the 244-page book is ‘We Are Displaced’, priced at Rs 399.Malala's experiences visiting refugee camps caused her to reconsider her own displacement - first as an Internally Displaced Person when she was a young child in Pakistan, and then as an international activist who could travel anywhere in the world except to the home she loved.

3.  ISRO announces Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Sivahas announced setting up of Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru to make India's maiden human mission to Space a reality.Gaganyaan project (Headed by- R. Hutton), will send three astronauts to orbit the Earth for three to seven days at about 400 kilometres.The space agency has tied up with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and L&T among other firms to manufacture the industry-made PSLV launch vehicles.

4.  NIC Command and Control Centre inaugurated : The Union minister of Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad has inaugurated the National Informatics Centre (NIC)’s Command and Control Centre (CCC) and its Centre for Excellence in Artificial Intelligence.National Informatics Centre hosts over 10,000 e-Governance applications and offers Data Centre and Cloud services to the Government.The Command and Control Centre is set up as a specialized facility with a nationwide view of ICT infrastructure for effective monitoring and management of the performance & availability of all these critical services.

5.  Urea fertilizer prices reduced by 11% in UP : The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has reduced the prices of urea fertilizer by 11% in the interest of the farmers.The decrease in prices of Urea is due to the reduction in additional VAT levied on natural gas.Now, the bag of 45 kilograms of urea will be available at the cost of Rs. 266.50 instead of Rs. 299.

6. Union Government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) :   The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched by Union minister for environment, forests and climate change, Harsh Vardhanwith an initial budget of Rs. 300 crores for the first two years.The NCAP will be a mid-term, five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year.The Centre stepped up its efforts to combat air pollution by launching a five-year action plan with a tentative target of 20-30% reduction in concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 by 2024, with 2017 as the base year.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Su Tseng-chang appointed as Taiwan PM : Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has appointed Su Tseng-chang as Prime Minister, during a Cabinet reshuffle following the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's heavy losses in local electionsSu is a former premier appointed in 2006 by then-President Chen Shui-bian.She was a chairman of Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party for two terms.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.  TCS appoints Daniel Hughes Callahan as Independent Director : India’s largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)has appointed Daniel Hughes Callahan as an Additional and Independent Director for a period of five years.He was the Chief Administrative Officer (CEO) and Head of Operations and Technology at Citi group and was a member of Citi’s Operating Committee until November 2018. Callahan has broad experience in driving strategic change across large global organisations and dealing with multiple stakeholders in local and national governments and regulatory bodies.

2. Finance Minister to present interim Budget for 2019-20 fiscal on 1st February : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the interim Budget for 2019-20 fiscal on 1st of February 2019.The budget session of the Parliament to be held from 31^st January to 13th February.The work for preparation of interim Budget has already commenced and is now gaining momentum.

SPORTS:

1. Egypt to host 2019 Africa Cup of Nations : According to Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad Ahmad, Egypt will host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations between 15th June and 13th July 2019.The CAF executive committee preferred Egypt to South Africa as a replacement for original hosts Cameroon.Cameroon was dropped due to delays in preparations and concerns over security.

Daily GK Updates - 11th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Selection Committee chaired by PM removes Alok Verma as CBI Chief : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma has been transferred and appointed Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards.The three-member Selection Committee (Justice AK Sikri & Mallikarjun Kharge), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which appoints the CBI chief took the decision.The decision was taken by a majority with Mallikarjun Khargeopposing the move.

2. Six States sign agreement for Renukaji Multipurpose Dam Project : An agreement for Renukaji Dam Multipurpose Project has signed among the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.The agreement has been signed in the presence of the Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Nitin Gadkari and all six Chief Ministers of the states in New Delhi.The project is aimed at meeting the drinking water needs of these states.Under it, three storage projects are proposed to be constructed on the river Yamuna and two of its tributaries - Tons and Giri in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. 

3. Women and Child Development Ministry launches ‘#www: WebWonderWomen' Campaign : The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched an online campaign, ‘Web - Wonder Women’ also known as ‘#www’.The objective of the campaign is to discover and celebrate the exceptional achievements of women, who have been driving positive agenda of social change through social media itself.The Ministry partnered with the Breakthrough and Twitter India for ‘#www: WebWonderWomen’ campaign.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Venezuela President Maduro sworn in for the second term : The socialist leader Nicolás Maduro (56-year) has been sworn in for the second term (first elected in 2013) as Venezuela's president.Thousands of spectators gathered for the ceremony in Caracas, including Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, and president of Bolivia Evo Morales.The May 2018 polls were marred by an opposition boycott and vote-rigging claims.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Gets USD 400 Million Swap from RBI : According to Sri Lanka’s Central Bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has agreed to provide USD 400 million under a swap arrangement to boost the island nation’s reserves.The RBI has agreed to provide the funds under its SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Corporation) Swap facility.These are to be made available under the SAARC SWAP facility.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. GST exemption limit doubled for small businesses : The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has doubled the GST exemption limit to Rs 20 lakh for northeastern states and Rs 40 lakh for the rest of the country.The scope of GST Composition Scheme, under which small traders and businesses pay a small tax based on turnover rather than value addition is raised to Rs 1.5 crore from Rs 1 crore.The twin move would give relief to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).The changes will come into effect from 1st April this year.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope's premier camera shuts down :  The main camera onboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has been shut down after it encountered a hardware problem.The telescope will continue to perform science observations with its other three active instruments.The defect in the Hubble Wide Field Camera 3 is being investigated.The camera is equipped with back up electronics that can be called to action if the need arises.

SPORTS:

1. Bopanna serves big in Tata Open title win with Sharan : Top-seeded Indian pair Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharanhave won maiden ATP tour Tennis title at the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune.Indian pair defeated British pair of Luke Bambridge and Jonny O'Maara by 6-3 6-4.This was Bopanna's 18th ATP tour title while Sharan has won his fourth tournament on the circuit.

2. IWF president named as Chef de Mission for Tokyo Olympics 2020 : President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF), Birendra Prasad Baishya, has been named Chef de Mission for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.It is for the first time that the Weightlifting has been accorded with the honour of Chef de Mission for the Olympics. Baishya is also one of the Indian Olympic Association Vice Presidents.

3. Mary Kom attains number one position in AIBA rankings : Indian Olympic boxer from Manipur M C Mary Kom (35-year) has attained number one position in the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) latest world rankings.She became the most successful boxer in world championships' history when she claimed the 48kg category top honours in Delhi in November 2018.Mary Kom is placed top of the charts in the weight division with 1700 points.

Daily GK Updates - 10th January, 2019

         NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.World Hindi day being celebrated across the world today : The World Hindi day being celebrated across the world every year on 10th January to create awareness about the language of Hindi across the World.Hindi is the fourth most spoken language of the world.The first World Hindi Conference was organized in Nagpur on 10th January 1975.

2.PM Modi launched 'Gangajal Project' to provide better and assured water supply in Agra : Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has launched a series of development projects worth Rs. 2900 Crores for the Agra city and the adjoining areas.The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation ‘Gangajal project’ which will provide Agra with better and more assured water supply.The Gangajal project aims to bring 140 cusecs of Ganga water to Agra.Prime Minister laid the foundation Stone of Integrated Command and Control Centre for Agra Smart City.In this project, CCTVs will be installed throughout Agra City for monitoring and surveillance for the purpose of safety and security.

3.India's longest single lane steel cable suspension bridge opens in Arunachal : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has inaugurated India’s longest single-lane steel cable suspension bridge (300-metre) over Siang River in Upper Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh.The bridge is also known as 'byorung bridge', built at a cost of Rs 4,843 crore and funded by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources scheme.The bridge will reduce the distance between Yingkiong and Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh by almost 40 km (earlier road length- 192 km).

4.First Global aviation summit to be held in Mumbai : The Global Aviation Summit 2019 will be organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) in collaboration with FICCI in Mumbai, Maharashtra (15-16 January 2019).The theme of the two days summit is ‘Flying for all’.The objective of the summit to provide a platform to the aviation fraternity to showcase the challenges of the sector in the newly developing growth spots and understand how the technology-driven innovations will change the air travel in future.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.India allows Iran’s Bank Pasargad to open a branch in Mumbai : According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, India has allowed an Iranian bank ‘Pasargad Bank’ to open a branch in Mumbai.Iran’s Pasargad Bank has received the necessary clearances to open its branch in Mumbai.The move is aimed at circumventing US trade and investment sanctions as India builds a strategic port in the West Asian country.

2.Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi wins the presidential election in Congo : According to Congo electoral commission, opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has won the long-delayed presidential election.Tshisekedi has won with 38.57 per cent of more than 18 million ballots cast.If Tshisekedi’s victory is confirmed by the constitutional court, Democratic Republic of Congo will see its first peaceful democratic transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

              OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE :

1.MoU between the Indian Army and Punjab National Bank : Indian Army and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Defence Salary Package.The signing ceremony was chaired by the Adjutant General, Lt Gen Ashwani Kumar and was attended by top dignitaries of PNB headed by Mr Naveen Kumar.The Army hopes this MoU will benefit many serving and retired Army personnel who have accounts with PNB.It will also provide them an opportunity to access modern banking facilities.

2.World Bank projects India's growth rate at 7.3% in 2018-19 : In its 2019 Global Economics Prospect released in Washington, The World Bank has projected India's growth rate at 7.3% in the fiscal year 2018-19 and average 7.5% in 2019 and 2020.Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation are expected to encourage a shift from the informal to the formal sector.

SPORTS:

1.Hockey India removed Harendra Singh as coach of India Men's Team : According to Hockey India a statement, Indian men's hockey coach Harendra Singh was removed from the position.Mr. Singh was given back the charge of the Junior Men’s Hockey team.Harendra Singh was brought in as men's coach in May 2018.Until the appointment of a new coach, Hockey India High-Performance Director, David John and current Analytical Coach, Chris Ciriello will oversee the team.

2.Mohamed Salah named African footballer of the year : Liverpool’s 26-years old Mohamed Salah (from Egypt) has been named as the 2018 Confederation of African Football Player of the Year.He received the award at a ceremony in Senegal.Houston Dash and South Africa forward Thembi Kgatlana was named Women’s Player of the Year.Salah scored 44 goals for Liverpool during the 2017-18 season.

Daily GK Updates - 9th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Lok Sabha passes Constitution 124th Amendment Bill, 2019 : The Lok Sabha has passed the Constitution 124th (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to provide 10% reservation to economically backward sections (EWS) in the General category.The bill facilitates reservation for EWS in direct recruitments and admission in higher educational institutions.This reservation will be given without tampering the existing quotas for SC, ST and OBCs.

2. Exhibitor of the Year Award for DRDO at 106th Indian Science Congress : The DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) pavilion received ‘Exhibitor of the Year Award’ at 106th Indian Science Congress held in Punjab.On 03^rd January 2019,’DRDO Pavillion’ was inaugurated by Shri VP Singh Badnore (Governor of Punjab)and Dr Harsh Vardhan (Union Science and Technology Minister).They took a keen interest in DRDO products and technologies displayed.

3. Polavaram enters Guinness Book of Records : The ‘Polavaram project’ in Andhra Pradesh has entered the Guinness Book of World by pouring 32,100 cubic metres of concrete in 24 hours.The project beat the existing record of 21,580 cubic metres, achieved by Abdul Wahed Bin Shabib, RALS Contracting LLC and Alfa Eng. Consultant (all UAE), in Dubai (in 2017).Polavaram irrigation project is a multipurpose terminal reservoir, envisaged to cater to the irrigation needs.

4. West Bengal govt extends the retirement age of college teachers : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced to extend the retirement age of College-university professors from 62 to 65 years and Vice-Chancellors from 65 to 70 years.The move was aimed to utilise their services for a longer period. The West Bengal government has also taken the decision to raise the retirement age of Vice-Chancellors from 65 to 70 years.

5.  Union Textiles Ministry launches Yarn Bank Scheme : The Union Ministry of Textiles has launched a Yarn Bank Schemeas one of the components of PowerTex India scheme with an aim to avoid fluctuation in yarn price.Under the scheme, an interest-free corpus fund up to Rs.2.00 crorewould be provided to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)/Consortium formed by power loom waivers.PowerTex India is a comprehensive scheme for power loom sector development.

6. Journalist Dinu Randive conferred with a lifetime achievement award :  Veteran journalist Dinu Randive has been conferred with the lifetime achievement award by the Mantralaya and Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh.It is an association of journalists covering Maharashtra legislature and secretariat. Mr Randive has participated in the freedom struggle, the Sanyukta Maharashtra movement and the Goa liberation movement.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim to step down on 1^st Feb : World Bank President Jim Yong Kim (58-years) will step down from his position on 1^st February 2019, much before the end of his term in 2022.According to the World Bank statement, he will join a firm and focus on increasing infrastructure investments in developing countriesKristalina Georgieva (World Bank CEO) will assume the role of interim President (from 1st of Feb 2019).

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.Exports of jute products rise to 24% since 2014 : According to Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, Exports of jute diversified products have risen by 24% (since 2014).The ministry is trying to connect the weavers with big companies for realising higher margins.The government is looking at ways and means to raise the income of the weavers and generate employment

SPORTS :

1. 2nd edition of Khelo India Youth Games begins in Pune :  Union Minister for sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore has inaugurated the 2^nd edition of ‘Khelo India Youth Games’ in Pune,Maharashtra (till 20th Jan 2019).More than 9000 players from different states are participating in 18 different games at Khelo India Youth Games. Around 14,000 persons, including 9,000 sportspersons and 4,000 managers, will be coming for the Games. The hockey tournament for boys has already started in Mumbai from Monday.

2. BCCI announces cash awards for triumphant Team India members : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced cash awards of Rs 15 lakh per match for each of the playing eleven that featured in India's maiden Test Cricket series win on Australian soil. BCCI also announced cash awards of seven and a half lakh rupees for all the reserve players, as well as the members of the support staff. The coaches will be awarded Rs 25 lakh each.

Daily GK Updates - 8th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Supreme Court reinstates Alok Verma as CBI Director : Alok Verma (1979 batch IPS officer) has been reinstated as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief by the Supreme Court.Earlier, Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave in October 2018 amid a bitter feud between the CBI’s top two. Verma's two-year tenure as CBI director ends on 31^st January 2019. CBI's Joint Director M Nageswara Rao (1986 batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer) was given the charge of interim chief of the probe agency. The judgment was pronounced by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph.

2. Rajesh Chandra appointed Director-General of SSB : According to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry, Kumar Rajesh Chandra (IPS officer-1985-batch-Bihar cadre) has been appointed as the director general of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), up to 31^st December 2021.Currently, He is the director general of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).The SSB has about 80,000 personnel, guards India's borders with Nepal and Bangladesh. Prior to 2001, the force was known as the Special Service Bureau (SSB).

                                                                                      

3. HRD Minister approves the addition of 5000 more seats in Navodaya Vidyalayas from AY 2019-20 : The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar has announced to increase 5000 seats (at present-46600 seats) in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) for the Academic Year 2019-20.This unprecedented expansion of JNVs, nearly free of cost residential schools, will provide more opportunity for talented children from rural areas to get a quality education.For the 2019 entrance test, 31.10 lakh students have registered for the entrance examination. In the next four years, the government is likely to add 32000 more seats.

4. Prayagraj to Katra direct bus services started :  Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the direct bus services from Prayagraj to Katra in Jammu and Kashmir. The service was started on the occasion when the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) signed an inter-state bus pact with its counterpart in J&K. Now, those pilgrims who will visit Kumbh (Prayagraj) can directly go to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine located in Katra. Fare of these AC buses will be Rs 1,333 each. The distance of about 1,387km between Prayagraj and Katra will be covered in almost 24 hours.

5. Cabinet approves 10% quota for economically backward upper castes : The Union Cabinet has approved 10% reservation in direct recruitments and for admission in higher educational institutions for the economically backward section in the general category. The reservation benefit is likely to be availed by those whose annual income is below Rs 8 lakh and have up to five acres of Agricultural land. The government will bring a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament, as the quota will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation. Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution will have to be amended for implementation of the decision.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Gita Gopinath joins IMF as its first female chief economist : India born Gita Gopinath (47 -years) has joined International Monetary Fund(IMF) as its chief economist(11th).She has the first woman to hold the top IMF post.Gopinath succeeds Maurice (Maury) Obstfeld (retired on 31st December) as Economic Counsellor and Director of the IMF's Research Department. The Economic Counsellor of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is also the Director of the Fund's Research Department and is responsible for providing independent advice to the Fund on its policy issues.

2. Egypt opens West Asia's largest cathedral in its new administrative capital : Egypt President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has opened West Asia's largest cathedral in its New Administrative Capital (45 kilometres east of Cairo).President al-Sisi inaugurated the newly-built Cathedral of Nativity and mosque on the eve of Coptic Christmas.The two places of worship stand as a symbol in the face of attempts to undermine the country's stability and sectarian seditions. The ceremony was attended by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and a host of Arab dignitaries. It included recorded video messages of support from the region's top Christian clerics as well as Pope Francis.

3. 4th Edition of Raisina Dialogue begins in New Delhi : The fourth edition of the Raisina Dialogue has begun in New Delhi. Ms Erna Solberg (Norway Prime Minister) has delivered the inaugural address in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sushma Swaraj (External Affairs Minister). The theme of this year Dialogue is "A World Reorder: New Geometries; Fluid Partnerships; Uncertain Outcomes”. The Dialogue will bring together over 600 delegates from 93 countries, including influential political leaders, strategic thinkers, policy practitioners, technology innovators, business representatives and academics. Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with Observer Research Foundation is organizing the flagship annual geopolitical and geostrategic conference.

4. AAI bans single-use plastic items at 129 airports across the country :  Airports Authority of India (AAI) has imposed a ban on single-use plastic items at its 129 airports across the country. These steps include the banning of single-use plastic items like straws, plastic cutlery, plastic plates etc. Based on a third-party assessment carried out by the Quality Council of India(QCI), 16 of its airports have been declared as Single-Use Plastic Free.Single-use plastic items are used only once and then thrown in the trash.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Indian economy expects to grow at 7.2% in 2018-19 : According to Central Statistics Office (CSO) report, Indian economy is expected to grow at 7.2% in 2018-19 (earlier 6.7%) due to improvement in the performance of agriculture and manufacturing sectors. At current prices, GDP grows by 12.3% rising to 188. 41 lakh crores.Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg described India continued to remain the fastest growing economy in the world.

2.  Naveen Patnaik announces interest-free loans for women SHGs : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced interest-free loans of up to Rs. 3 lakhs for six lakh women self-help groups (WSHGs) in the state. It will benefit about 70 lakh women of the state. Mr. Patnaik also distributed financial assistance of Rs. 3,000 each to six lakh WSHGs as part of the state government’s efforts to digitally empower women. He also launched a scheme to distribute Rs. 15,000 seed money per group to three lakh new self-help groups.